ZIMBABWE: CAFOD Calls for Peaceful and Credible Elections

HARARE, JULY 24, 2018 (CISA) – The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has called on all those involved in the forthcoming July 30 2018 National Election, to demonstrate leadership and do all in their power to make the elections successful and credible.

“This is the most important election in the lifetime of many Zimbabweans, and they need to be free, fair, credible and peaceful,” said CAFOD’s Governance Advisor Dadirai Chikwengo.

In November 2017, Robert Mugabe stepped down after 37 years as president. Zimbabwe has been in economic and political crisis for nearly two decades.

“Economic reform as part of the country’s recovery, must ensure the interests of the majority of Zimbabweans, and must support vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly and people living with disabilities,” said Chikwengo.

“We believe, we hope and we pray, that the coming elections will be such a moment for us all. Genuinely free and fair elections will return us to constitutionality and the will of the people,” read a June 29th statement from the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

“We need to look at the bigger picture. Ultimately what we are voting for is not this or that government, but rather a particular kind of society for ourselves and for our children,” said the Bishops.

The Zimbabwe Catholic Commission for justice and peace will station observers around the country.